Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-22


of Johns words penetrated more and
more through the crust she had drawn
over her heart, until fresh stab met
her at the door. Looking in at the
open door, she saw a white head
bowed in weeping, slight figure
shaken by sObs.
Quickly through all the sel6shness.
self-reproach struck at the girls heart,
and in moment she was on her knees
beside the low chair. her arms around
the weeping woman.
''Oh, Aunt Mary, what is it: Oh,
please don't cry so! Oh, what has
happened?'
"Why. Daisy, dear"-through sobs
that would not be checked at mo-
ment's notice-''don't mind me. I'm
only tired, dearie-only tired"
Could she have struck deeper?
Tired! AT seventy, homework does
become WEAKNESS! At seventy, it
may seem as if one ought to rest while
young hands and active feet take up
the burdens. She was very tired, this
patient old woman, who had given her
life's work for others; first, for her
parents; then for an invalid brother;
lastly, for the orphan children; with
such innumerable acts of neighborly
kindness rs only the recording angel
of good deeds knew.
Well might she be tired! 1t was new
to her to be caressed, to have tender
hands lead her to her room and loosen
her dress, a tender voice coax her to
lie down.
"Now l will darken the window"
Daisy said, land you are to rest.
Sleep. if you can. until dinner time"
"But. Daisy. you can not make the
dinner"
Il will try" was the quick reply;
and Aunt Mary submitted.
Washing the potatoes. Smelling pease,
frying ham, making coffee, all allowed
thought to be busy. and Daisy sigh
ingly put away some of her day-dreams
over her homely tasks
Il can not be a lady," she thought.
land John won't be gentleman, but
l will try to pay my share of the
debts"
She had taken off her flounces and
hat, and put on plain dress and large
check apron before she began to work;
and she was rather astonished, as her
kitchen duties progressed. to find her
self happier than she had been since
she returned home.
When John came to dinner he was
astonished to find Aunt Mary 'quite
dressed up" as she blushingly said, in
clean print dress and white apron.
her dear old face showing no sign of
heat or WEAKNESS, while Daisy. with
added bloom and bare white arms, was
carrying in the dinner.
1.-The new girl. at your service" she
said. saucily. as she pulled down her
sleeves. 'Dinner is ready. sir
But her lips quivered rs he bent over
her and whispered: God bless you.
dear! Forgive me il l was too hasty
this morning"
1t was q merry meal. They made
play that was more than half earnest
of Aunt Mary's being a great lady who
was to be waited upon. and not allowed
to rise from the table upon any con-
sideration. Dinner over. John re-
turned to his blowing, and Aunt Mary.
firmly refusing to sit in idleness. was
allowed to wash cups and saucers.
while Daisy made short work of pots
and pans.
John said but little as the days wore
on and still found Daisy at her post.
1t was not in the nature of things for
Aunt Mary to sit with folded hands,
but it became Daisy's task to in
augurate daily maps. to see that only
the light work came to the older
hands. to make daily work less of toll
and more of a pleasure.
And the young girl herself was sur
prised to find how much she enjoyed
the life that had seemed to her mere
drudgery.
With younger hands to carry on the
domestic affairs, they ceased to engrOss
every hour Of the day, and John en-
couraged Daisy in making use of the
stiff. shut-up parlOr as 4 daily sitting
room. A pair of muslin curtains at
each window were skillfully draped to
keep ont the flies. the center table re-
signed its gay vase of stiff artificial
flowers and stand of wax fruit, to ma e
room for the dainty work-baskets for
afternoon work." and the periodicals
John took in.
Over the shiny horse-hair sofa and
chairs pretty bits Of embroidery were
draped. and fresh flowers were sup
piled each day. Aunt Mary's caps.
her collars and aprons were adjusted
to suit the new order of things. and
the easiest of chairs stood ever ready
for her resting time.
And John. bringing to his task the
same will and brains that had carried